U.S. patent number 5,463,852 [Application Number 08/234,232] was granted by the patent office on 1995-11-07 for wide cut harvester having rotary cutter bed.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hay & Forage Industries. Invention is credited to Cecil L. Case, David P. Fritz, Michael L. O'Halloran, Martin E. Pruitt.
United States Patent |
5,463,852 |
O'Halloran , et al. |
November 7, 1995 |
Wide cut harvester having rotary cutter bed
Abstract
A harvester which uses a rotary style cutter bed has a series of
rotary cutters extending across the path of travel of the machine
and rotatable about individual upright axes. Part of the cutter bed
is a flat gear case containing a train of intermeshed spur gears
that serve to distribute power between the cutters above the gear
train. Each end of the gear case has a hollow, gearless extension
welded thereto which supports at least one additional outboard
cutter that receives its driving power exteriorally of the gear
case. One embodiment uses a mechanical drive to bring power to the
upright shaft of the cutter having the first spur gear so that the
cutters with gears receive all their power from the driven cutter.
The outboard cutters not having gears are driven by exterior,
over-the-top drive mechanism coupled with the shafts of the first
and last geared cutters, such drive mechanism alternatively taking
the form of timing belts with timing sheaves, chains and sprockets,
gear box and universal joint couplings or a spur gear train. As an
alternative to a mechanical drive, the cutter bar may utilize a
pair of hydraulic motors coupled with the shafts of the first and
last cutters having gears. All of the gears in the gear case remain
positively enmeshed with one another in the gear train, so that the
two hydraulic motors share the total load of driving the cutter bed
and such loading is balanced between the two hydraulic motors,
prolonging the useful life of the gears and other drive components.
The added on, outboard cutters are driven over the top using timing
belts, timing sheaves, universal couplings or a spur gear
train.
Inventors: |
O'Halloran; Michael L.
(Hesston, KS), Case; Cecil L. (Newton, KS), Pruitt;
Martin E. (Hesston, KS), Fritz; David P. (Newton,
KS) |
Assignee: |
Hay & Forage Industries
(Hesston, KS)
|
Family
ID: |
22880499 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/234,232 |
Filed: |
April 28, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
56/6; 56/13.9;
56/192; 56/295; 56/DIG.11; 56/DIG.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D
34/664 (20130101); A01D 34/76 (20130101); Y10S
56/06 (20130101); Y10S 56/11 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01D
34/66 (20060101); A01D 34/76 (20060101); A01D
34/63 (20060101); A01D 034/66 () |
Field of
Search: |
;56/6,13.5,13.9,15.1,15.2,15.5,15.6,16.4R,255,295,192,DIG.1,DIG.6,DIG.9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Melius; Terry L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hovey, Williams, Timmons &
Collins
Claims
We claim:
1. In a machine for mowing crop materials, the improvement
comprising:
a cutter bed including a series of rotary cutters extending across
the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual,
upright axes,
said series of cutters including a plurality of intermediate
cutters and at least two outer cutters located outwardly beyond and
at opposite ends of the plurality of intermediate cutters,
said intermediate cutters including a pair of drive cutters to
which driving power is supplied for all of the intermediate
cutters;
at least a pair of hydraulic motors operably coupled with
respective ones of said drive cutters for supplying said driving
power to the drive cutters for distribution to the remaining
intermediate cutters;
power distribution means operably interconnecting all of the
intermediate cutters with one another in an unbroken drive line to
effect said distribution of driving power from the drive cutters to
the remaining intermediate cutters;
means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure to said motors
for operating the motors; and
means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic motors
for driving the outer cutters,
said means for supplying hydraulic fluid including conduit means
communicating said motors with one another during the application
of driving power to the drive cutters in a manner to cause the
motors to share the load of driving all of the intermediate cutters
and all of the outer cutters.
2. In a machine as claimed in claim 1,
said cutter bed further including an elongated housing located
beneath the intermediate cutters,
said power distribution means being contained within said
housing.
3. In a machine as claimed in claim 2,
said power distribution means comprising intermeshing gears.
4. In a machine as claimed in claim 3,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors being located exteriorly of said housing.
5. In a machine as claimed in claim 4,
each of said drive cutters having input drive shaft means operably
coupling the drive cutter with its corresponding hydraulic
motor,
each of said outer cutters having driven shaft means operably
associated therewith,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors comprising mechanism interconnecting the drive shaft means
and the driven shaft means.
6. In a machine as claimed in claim 5,
said mechanism including an endless, flexible drive element
entrained around said drive shaft means and said driven shaft
means.
7. In a machine as claimed in claim 5,
said mechanism including a set of intermeshing gears.
8. In a machine as claimed in claim 5,
said mechanism including a gear box on each of said drive shaft
means and driven shaft means,
said mechanism further including transfer shaft means extending
between the gear boxes of a drive shaft means and a driven shaft
means.
9. In a machine as claimed in claim 2,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors being located exteriorly of said housing.
10. In a machine as claimed in claim 9,
each of said drive cutters having input drive shaft means operably
coupling the drive cutter with its corresponding hydraulic
motor,
each of said outer cutters having driven shaft means operably
associated therewith,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors comprising mechanism interconnecting the drive shaft means
and the driven shaft means.
11. In a machine as claimed in claim 10,
said mechanism including an endless, flexible drive element
entrained around said drive shaft means and said driven shaft
means.
12. In a machine as claimed in claim 10,
said mechanism including a set of intermeshing gears.
13. In a machine as claimed in claim 10,
said mechanism including a gear box on each of said drive shaft
means and driven shaft means,
said mechanism further including transfer shaft means extending
between the gear boxes of a drive shaft means and a driven shaft
means.
14. In a machine as claimed in claim 1,
further including means defining a crop discharge opening behind
the cutter bed for receiving crop materials cut by the series of
cutters,
said discharge opening having a pair of opposite ends,
said drive cutters being located adjacent said opposite ends of the
discharge opening.
15. In a machine as claimed in claim 14,
each of said drive cutters being provided with upright, input drive
shaft means for receiving driving power from the hydraulic
motors,
said input drive shaft means being located outboard of said
opposite ends of the discharge opening.
16. In a machine as claimed in claim 15,
each of said outer cutters being provided with upright, driven
shaft means located outboard of the input drive shaft means,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors including mechanism interconnecting the drive shaft means
and the driven shaft means.
17. In a machine as claimed in claim 16,
said cutter bed further including an elongated housing located
beneath the intermediate cutters,
said power distribution means for the intermediate cutters being
contained within said housing,
said mechanism interconnecting the drive shaft means and the driven
shaft means being located externally of said housing.
18. In a machine as claimed in claim 16,
said mechanism including an endless, flexible drive element
entrained around said drive shaft means and said driven shaft
means.
19. In a machine as claimed in claim 16,
said mechanism including a set of intermeshing gears.
20. In a machine as claimed in claim 16,
said mechanism including a gear box on each of said drive shaft
means and driven shaft means,
said mechanism further including transfer shaft means extending
between the gear boxes of a drive shaft means and a driven shaft
means.
21. In a machine as claimed in claim 1,
said cutter bed including an elongated housing located beneath the
intermediate cutters and containing said power distribution
means,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors being located externally of said housing,
said cutter bed further including a pair of supports fixed to and
extending outwardly from opposite ends of the housing,
said supports being located beneath said outer cutters.
22. In a machine as claimed in claim 21,
said power distribution means comprising intermeshing gears.
23. In a machine as claimed in claim 21,
each of said outer cutters having upright driven shaft means
rotatably supported by said support,
said means operably coupling the outer cutters with the hydraulic
motors including mechanism operably connected to said driven shaft
means.
24. In a machine as claimed in claim 23,
each of said drive cutters having input drive shaft means operably
coupling the drive cutter with its corresponding hydraulic
motor,
said mechanism being operably connected between the drive shaft
means and the driven shaft means.
25. In a machine as claimed in claim 24,
said mechanism including an endless, flexible drive element
entrained around said drive shaft means and said driven shaft
means.
26. In a machine as claimed in claim 24,
said mechanism including a set of intermeshing gears.
27. In a machine as claimed in claim 24,
said mechanism including a gear box on each of said drive shaft
means and driven shaft means,
said mechanism further including transfer shaft means extending
between the gear boxes of a drive shaft means and a driven shaft
means.
28. In a machine as claimed in claim 14,
further including a conditioner behind said opening for
conditioning the crop materials passing through said opening.
29. In a machine for mowing crop materials, the improvement
comprising:
a cutter bed including a set of rotary cutters extending across the
path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual
upright axes;
first upright drive shaft means projecting upwardly from and
operably coupled with a first cutter in the set for supplying
driving power to said first cutter;
second upright drive shaft means projecting upwardly from and
operably coupled with a second cutter in the set for supplying
driving power to said second cutter;
power distribution means operably connecting all the cutters in the
set with one another for transferring power between the
cutters;
power means for driving said cutters including a first hydraulic
motor operably coupled with said first upright drive shaft means
and a second hydraulic motor operably coupled with said second
upright drive shaft means; and
conduit means establishing fluid communication between said
hydraulic motors in such a manner that the motors share the load of
driving the set of cutters.
30. In a machine as claimed in claim 29,
said cutter bed having generally horizontally extending wall means
spaced above the cutters having the first-mentioned and second
drive shaft means projecting upwardly therefrom,
said first mentioned and second drive shaft means extending
upwardly through and beyond said wall means,
said hydraulic motors being located above said wall means.
31. In a machine as claimed in claim 29; and
a pair of outer cutters disposed outboard of the first and second
cutters,
said outer cutters each having upright driven shaft means
projecting upwardly therefrom and operably coupled therewith,
said power means including mechanism operably coupling each drive
shaft means with a corresponding driven shaft means.
32. In a machine as claimed in claim 29,
said first and second cutters being disposed at opposite endmost
positions in the set of cutters.
33. In a machine as claimed in claim 29,
said power distribution means being located below the set of
cutters.
34. In a machine as claimed in claim 33; and
a pair of outer cutters disposed outboard of the first and second
cutters; and
a pair of upright driven shaft means projecting upwardly from said
outer cutters and operably coupled therewith,
said power means including mechanism operably coupling each drive
shaft means with a corresponding driven shaft means.
35. In a machine as claimed in claim 34,
said mechanism being located above said outer cutters.
36. In a machine for mowing crop materials, the improvement
comprising:
a cutter bed including a set of rotary cutters extending across the
path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual
upright axes;
power distribution means below said cutters operably connecting the
cutters with one another for transferring power between the
cutters;
upright drive shaft means projecting upwardly from and operably
coupled with at least one of said cutters for supplying driving
power to said at least one cutter;
power means for driving said cutters including at least one
hydraulic motor operably coupled with said upright drive shaft
means;
second upright drive shaft means projecting upwardly from and
operably coupled with a second cutter in the set of cutters,
said power means including a second hydraulic motor operably
coupled with said second upright drive shaft means;
conduit means establishing fluid communication between said
hydraulic motors in such a manner that the motors share the load of
driving the series of cutters;
generally horizontally extending wall means spaced above the
cutters having the first-mentioned and second drive shaft means
projecting upwardly therefrom,
said first mentioned and second drive shaft means extending
upwardly through and beyond said wall means,
said hydraulic motors being located above said wall means; and
a pair of outer cutters disposed outboard of the cutters of the set
having said drive shaft means projecting upwardly therefrom,
said outer cutters each having upright driven shaft means
projecting upwardly therefrom and operably coupled therewith,
said power means including mechanism operably coupling each drive
shaft means with a corresponding driven shaft means.
37. In a machine as claimed in claim 36,
said mechanism being disposed above said wall means.
38. In a machine as claimed in claim 36,
said machine including a crop discharge opening located behind at
least certain of the cutters in the set,
said outer cutters and said cutters having the drive shaft means
projecting upwardly therefrom being disposed outboard of the
discharge opening at opposite ends thereof.
39. In a machine for mowing crop materials, the improvement
comprising:
a cutter bed including a series of rotary cutters extending across
the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual
upright axes,
said series of cutters including a group of cutters and at least
one end cutter located outboard of the group of cutters,
said cutter bed further including an elongated housing beneath the
group of cutters and power distributing means contained within the
housing for the cutters of said group,
said cutter bed further including a support projecting
longitudinally outwardly from at least one end of the housing and
disposed beneath said at least one end cutter,
said support being devoid of power distributing means therein;
power means for supplying driving power to the cutters of said
group and including upright drive shaft means operably coupled with
at least one cutter of the group;
upright driven shaft means operably coupled with said at least one
end cutter; and
mechanism operably coupling said driven shaft means with said power
means externally of the support for driving said at least one end
cutter.
40. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
39,
said mechanism being operably connected between said drive shaft
means and said driven shaft means.
41. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
40,
said mechanism including an endless, flexible drive element
entrained around said drive shaft means and said driven shaft
means.
42. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
41,
said drive element comprising a belt provided with means thereon
for maintaining a synchronized relationship between the drive shaft
means and a driven shaft means.
43. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
38,
said drive element comprising a chain capable of maintaining the
drive shaft means and driven shaft means in synchronized
relationship.
44. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
40,
said mechanism including a set of intermeshing gears.
45. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
40,
said mechanism including a gear box on each of said drive shaft
means and driven shaft means,
said mechanism further including transfer shaft means extending
between said gear box.
46. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
39,
said series of cutters further including at least one second end
cutter at the opposite end of the series from the first mentioned
end cutter and located outboard of the group of cutters,
said cutter bed further including a second support projecting
longitudinally outwardly from a second, opposite end of the housing
and disposed beneath said at least one second end cutter,
said second support being devoid of power distributing means
therein;
upright output shaft means operably coupled with a second cutter of
the group;
second upright driven shaft means operably coupled with said at
least one second end cutter; and
second mechanism operably coupling said driven shaft means with
said output shaft means externally of the second support for
driving said at least one second end cutter.
47. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
46,
said mechanisms for the end cutters of the bed each including an
endless flexible drive element.
48. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
47,
said flexible drive element comprising a belt provided with
synchronizing means.
49. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
47,
said flexible drive element comprising a chain provided with
synchronizing means.
50. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
46,
said mechanisms each including a set of intermeshing gears.
51. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
46,
said mechanisms each including a pair of gear boxes and transfer
shaft means extending between the gear boxes.
52. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
39,
further including means defining a crop discharge opening behind
the cutter bed for receiving crop materials cut by the series of
cutters,
said discharge opening having a pair of opposite ends,
said group of cutters having the first and last cutters of the
group disposed adjacent said opposite ends of the discharge
opening,
said first cutter of the group having said upright drive shaft
means associated therewith and said last cutter of the group having
upright output shaft means operably coupled with the last
cutter,
said series of cutters further including at least one second end
cutter at the opposite end of the series from the first mentioned
end cutter and located outboard of the group of cutters,
said cutter bed further including a second support projecting
longitudinally outwardly from a second, opposite end of the housing
and disposed beneath said at least one second end cutter,
said second support being devoid of power distributing means
therein;
second upright driven shaft means operably coupled with said at
least one second end cutter; and
second mechanism operably coupling said driven shaft means with
said output shaft means externally of the second support for
driving said at least one second end cutter.
53. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
52,
said first and last cutters in the group, and said first and second
end cutters, all rotating generally inwardly toward the discharge
opening across the front of the cutter bed for directing severed
crop materials toward the discharge opening.
54. In a machine for mowing crop materials, the improvement
comprising:
a cutter bed including a series of rotary cutters extending across
the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual
upright axes,
said series of cutters including a group of intermediate cutters
and at least a pair of end cutters located outboard of the group at
opposite ends thereof,
said cutter bed further including an elongated housing beneath the
group of cutters and power distributing means contained within the
housing for the cutters of said group,
said cutter bed further including a pair of supports projecting
longitudinally outwardly from opposite ends of the housing beneath
said end cutters,
said supports being devoid of power distributing means therein;
upright shaft means projecting upwardly from each of the first and
last cutters in the group;
power means operably coupled with at least one of said upright
shaft means for supplying driving power to the cutters of the
group;
upright driven shaft means projecting upwardly from each of the end
cutters; and
mechanism operably coupling said driven shaft means of the end
cutters with said shaft means of said first and last cutters of the
group externally of the supports for driving the end cutters.
55. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
54,
said power means including mechanically driven means coupled with
said one shaft means of the group of cutters.
56. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
59,
said power means including a pair of hydraulic motors operably
coupled with respective shaft means of the first and last cutters
of the group and means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure
to said motors for operating the same.
57. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
56,
said power distribution means within the housing being operable to
interconnect all of the cutters in said group with one another in
an unbroken drive line,
said means for supplying hydraulic fluid under pressure including
conduit means communicating said motors with one another during the
application of driving power to the shaft means of the first and
last cutters of the group in a manner to cause the motors to share
the load of driving all of the cutters of said group and all of the
end cutters.
58. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
54,
said mechanism including an endless flexible drive element between
each driven shaft means and its respective upright shaft means.
59. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
54,
said flexible drive element comprising a belt provided with
synchronizing means.
60. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
58,
said flexible drive element comprising a chain provided with
synchronizing means.
61. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
54,
said mechanism including a set of intermeshing gears for each
driven shaft means and its respective upright drive shaft
means.
62. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
54,
said mechanism including a pair of gear boxes and transfer shaft
means for each driven shaft means and its respective upright drive
shaft means.
63. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
54,
further including means defining a crop discharge opening behind
the cutter bed for receiving crop materials cut by the series of
cutters,
said discharge opening having a pair of opposite ends,
said group of cutters having the first and last cutters of the
group disposed adjacent said opposite ends of the discharge
opening.
64. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
63,
said first and last cutters in the group, and said end cutters, all
rotating generally inwardly toward the discharge opening across the
front of the cutter bed for directing severed crop materials toward
the discharge opening.
65. In a machine for mowing crop materials, the improvement
comprising:
a cutter bed including a series of rotary cutters extending across
the path of travel of the machine and rotatable about individual
upright axes;
a crop discharge opening located behind the cutter bed for
receiving severed crop materials from the series of cutters,
said discharge opening having a pair of opposite ends,
said series of cutters including a group of intermediate cutters
positioned in front of said discharge opening with the first and
last cutters of said group being located adjacent said opposite
ends of the discharge opening,
said series of cutters further including at least a pair of
opposite end cutters located outboard of the first and last cutters
of the group and outboard of said discharge opening;
means for driving the cutters of said group in oppositely rotating
pairs for directing severed material between the cutters of each
pair and into the discharge opening,
the first and last cutters of the group rotating generally inwardly
toward the discharge opening across the front of the cutter bed;
and
means for driving the end cutters in the same direction as their
next adjacent first or last cutter of the group such that the end
cutters and the first and last cutters of the group all rotate
generally inwardly toward the discharge opening across the front of
the cutter bed.
66. In a machine for mowing crop materials as claimed in claim
65,
said first and last cutters of the group each being provided with
upright shaft means,
each of said upright shaft means being located outboard of said
opposite ends of the discharge opening.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is related to co-pending application Ser. No.
08/234,225 filed Apr. 28, 1994, titled Rotary Cutter Bed Harvester
with Non-Auger Conveying Means for Outboard Cutters in the names of
Raymond F. Schmitt, et al. and to co-pending application Ser. No.
08/237,033 filed May 3, 1994, titled Harvester with Hydraulically
Driven, Flow-Compensated Rotary Cutter Bed in the names of Michael
L. O'Halloran, et al.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to the field of crop harvesters and,
more particularly, to harvesters of the type which utilize a cutter
bed having a series of relatively high speed, rotary cutters that
sever the standing crop from the ground as the machine advances
through the field.
BACKGROUND
One example of a harvester with rotary cutters is disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 5,272,859 titled MECHANICAL DRIVE CENTER PIVOT MOWER
CONDITIONER, which patent is owned by the assignee of the present
invention. The harvesting machine disclosed in the '859 Patent is a
pull-type harvester which requires the use of a separate tractor
for towing the harvester through the field during use. The
operating components of that harvester are mechanically driven
through a drive line that is coupled with the power takeoff shaft
of the towing tractor.
The harvester disclosed in the '859 Patent is also a conditioner,
which means that the severed crop materials are passed between a
pair of superimposed conditioning rolls before being discharged
onto the ground. However, as a practical matter there is a limit to
the length which such rolls can have and still function in an
optimal manner. Thus, while the width of cut taken by a
mower-conditioner using roll type conditioning mechanism can be
made significantly wider than the length of the conditioning rolls,
the crop that is severed by the machine must somehow be gathered
inwardly after severance before being directed through the shorter
conditioning rolls. Augers and other consolidating devices can be
used behind the cutter bed for this purpose, but this adds an
additional expense and subjects the crop materials to extra
mechanical handling, which may be undesirable in many cases. The
wider the cut, the more difficult the problem of conveying the
severed outboard materials toward the center without using some
kind of extra conveyor apparatus behind the cutters.
Furthermore, in making a longer cutter bed than disclosed in the
'859 Patent wherein the endmost cutters are located at the opposite
edges of a discharge opening to the conditioner rolls, additional
engineering and expense is involved if the extra, added-on cutters
are to be driven with their own extra spur gears within the gear
case beneath the cutters. Thus, it would be of considerable benefit
if additional cutters could be added onto the cutter bed without
the need for adding additional internal gearing to the existing
gear case. In that way, a standard, uniform size gear case could be
used for both the standard length cutter bed and the extended
length cutter bed having additional cutters.
Commercial hay producers typically use self-propelled machines and
usually prefer a wider cutting width than that found on many
pull-type units. Along with the extra width, however, comes
increased loading on the power distribution drive in the gear case.
Moreover, if a standard length gear case is to be utilized, some
means must again be provided for extending driving power to
additional cutters that are added on to extend the effective length
of the cutter bed. Since in many instances the self-propelled
tractors available for use with harvesters of this type are
conventionally provided with engines capable of supplying
pressurized hydraulic fluid for the operating components of a
harvesting header, and since hydraulically powered machines are
preferred in many instances by commercial operators, it would be
desirable and beneficial to provide a hydraulic-driven cutter bed
that would meet the needs and desires of commercial operators.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to
provide a way of making a longer cutter bed out of a certain length
gear case so that additional cutters can be added to opposite ends
of the gear case without necessitating redesign of the internal
gear train of the gear case. Stated otherwise, an important object
of this invention is to provide a way of using the cutter bed gear
case of a shorter width machine, such as a twelve foot cutting
width, on a wider cut machine, such as a fifteen foot machine,
without designing a whole new gear case, complete with additional
gears, bearings and other components appropriate for the wider
effective cutting width.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide a
rotary style machine in which the cut width can be substantially
wider than the opening to the conditioner mechanism without
requiring the addition of center gathering augers or other
consolidating mechanism behind the cutter bed to consolidate the
wide volume of cut material before it is presented to the
conditioning mechanism.
A further important object of the invention is to provide a
hydraulically powered, wide cut rotary style harvester that is
particularly well-suited for commercial hay operations in which
self-propelled tractors are typically favored and achieving high
levels of productivity through harvesting speed and maximum cut
width is a high priority. In this connection, one important object
is to provide a hydraulic drive arrangement which dramatically
increases cutter bed life through decreased loading on the
individual gears, bearings .and other components of the cutter bed,
without sacrificing cutting power, blade speed or ground speed of
the harvester.
Additionally, an important object of the invention is to provide a
hydraulic drive for the rotary style cutter bed of a harvester in
which the cutter bed speed remains substantially constant even if
the engine speed of the mechanism driving a hydraulic pump for the
bed lugs down such as when heavy crop conditions are
encountered.
In carrying out the foregoing and other important objects, the
present invention contemplates, in one preferred embodiment,
increasing the effective length of a standard-length cutter bed by
adding a pair of extensions or supports to opposite ends of the
original gear case. Additional rotary cutters are journalled by the
extended supports for rotation about upright axes. Instead of
increasing the length of the gear train through the gear case,
driving power to the added cutters is supplied by overhead drive
mechanism that connects upright shafts of the added cutters with
upright shafts associated with the opposite end cutters of the
original gear case. Such over-the-top mechanism may take the form,
for example, of timing belts and pulleys, chain and sprockets, gear
boxes and universal joint couplings, or a spur gear train. In the
event that the cutter bed is mechanically driven, one of the shafts
associated with the original gear case serves as the driving input
shaft from which all of the gears in the gear case receive their
driving power. On the other hand, if the drive is a hydraulic
drive, the present invention contemplates coupling at least one
hydraulic motor with the cutter bed. Preferably, a separate
hydraulic motor is coupled with each shaft of the two end gears in
the gear case and such motors are connected in a parallel fluid
flow relationship so that the work of driving the gears in the gear
case and their respective cutters, as well as the added-on-cutters,
is shared uniformly by both of the hydraulic motors. Such load
sharing comes by virtue of the uninterrupted mechanical drive train
through the gears in the cutter bed and the parallel fluid
connection between the motors. As a result, the loading on
individual gears, bearings and other components is dramatically
reduced from what it would otherwise be.
The hydraulic motors are mounted on the header frame above a
horizontal partition or wall that separates the overhead motors
from the cutting and consolidating region below the partition. A
special flow volume compensating circuit in the hydraulic drive
system responds to engine slow-down caused by increased loading in
the hydraulic operating circuit so as to allow essentially the same
flow volume rate of oil to move to the motors notwithstanding the
change in engine speed that would normally cause reduced volume.
The cutter speed thus remains substantially unchanged.
Alternative consolidating or conveying means associated with the
cutters laterally outside of the discharge opening of the header
are provided to achieve inward consolidation of cut crop from the
outer cutters. Such conveying means may take alternative forms such
as an upright platform or conveyor belts a rotary, suspended drum
between each pair of outer cutters, or a suspended rotary cage-type
impeller between impeller cages of the outer cutters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a pull type harvester having a rotary
cutter bed constructed in accordance with the principles of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cutter bed itself illustrating the
rotary cutters;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of the
header portion of the machine;
FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, fragmentary front elevational view of
the left end of the cutter bed (as viewed from the rear of the
machine) showing details of construction with parts broken away and
illustrated in cross section for clarity;
FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view through the outer cutter
and its associated mechanism at the left end of the header taken
substantially along line 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a similar vertical cross sectional view through the next
inboard cutter taken substantially along line 6--6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the header
showing an alternative over-the-top drive arrangement for the two
outermost cutters of the cutter bed utilizing gearboxes and
universal joints;
FIG. 8 is a similar fragmentary, front elevational view of the
header illustrating another embodiment of over-the-top drive for
the outer cutters utilizing a chain and sprocket mechanism;
FIG. 9 is another fragmentary, front elevational view of the header
showing an alternative embodiment employing a pair of hydraulic
motors for the cutter bed;
FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic circuit for the
hydraulic cutter bed drive of FIG. 9, including an engine speed,
load compensating circuit;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the left end of
the header illustrating one form of conveying means for directing
crop severed by the outboard cutters toward the central discharge
opening;
FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof taken
substantially along line 12--12 of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, front elevation view of the left end of
the header illustrating a second form of conveying means for the
outboard cutters utilizing a rotary drum between the impeller cages
of two outermost cutters;
FIG. 14 is a generally horizontal cross sectional view thereof
taken generally along line 14--14 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is another horizontal cross sectional view thereof taken
substantially along line 15--15 of FIG. 13;
FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the left end of the header
showing another form of conveying means for the outboard cutters,
including an impeller cages located between the impeller cages of
the two outermost cutters;
FIG. 17 is a horizontal cross sectional view thereof taken
substantially along line 17--17 of FIG. 16; and
FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the spur gear drive arrangement
utilized for the cage type conveyor construction of FIG. 16 (and
for outer cutters without an intermediate conveyor cage if
desired), with portions of the housing for the spur gear drive
being broken away to reveal details of construction.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Extended Cutter Bed Construction
The harvester 10 in FIG. 1 is a pull type harvester having a
wheeled frame 12 that supports a forwardly disposed harvesting
header 14. A center pivot tongue 16 is attached at its rear end to
the frame 12 via an upright pivot 18 and is adapted to be hitched
at its forward end (not shown) to a towing tractor (also not
shown). A hydraulic cylinder 20 interconnecting the rear of the
tongue 16 and the frame 12 is adapted to be operated from the
tractor seat so as to adjust the angular position of the tongue 16
relative to the frame 12 on-the-go, causing the harvester 10 to be
adjustably shifted laterally in its trailing relationship with the
tractor. A mechanical drive line 22 beneath the tongue 16 connects
at its forward end to the power takeoff shaft (not shown) of the
towing tractor, while the rear end of the drive line 22 connects to
a gearbox 24 (FIG. 3) supported on the header 14 forwardly of the
tongue pivot 18. The gearbox 24 can swivel about an upright axis
defined by the journal 26 and is steered in such swiveling movement
by a link 28 connected to the underside of the tongue 16 and the
gearbox 24. Such features are fully disclosed in the above
mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,859 which is hereby incorporated by
reference into the present specification as need be for a full and
complete understanding of the present invention.
The header 14 includes a cutter bed 30 as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3
and 4. The cutter bed 30 serves as a means by which standing crop
is severed from the ground as the machine 10 is advanced. In the
particular embodiment illustrated, the cutter bed 30 includes a
series of ten rotary cutters 32 extending across the path of travel
of the machine and each rotatable about its own upright axis. For
the sake of convenience, the ten cutters 32 in FIG. 2 will be
denoted by the letters 32a-32j, beginning with the left most cutter
32 in the series as viewed from the rear of the machine. The group
of intermediate cutters 32b-32i are rotatably supported on an
elongated, flat gear case 34 that extends underneath the cutters
32b-32i for the full length of the group. The gear case 34 is
hollow as shown in FIG. 4 and contains a train of flat spur gears
35 that are operably engaged with one another and thus serve to
distribute driving power between one another. Although other forms
of power distribution means can be utilized within the case 34,
such as shafts and bevel gears or belts and pulleys, the flat spur
gears 35 are preferred. Each of the cutters 32 includes a generally
elliptical, formed metal knife carrier 36, such as illustrated by
the cutter 32a, and a pair of free swinging knives 38 at opposite
ends of the carrier 36 as well understood by those skilled in the
art. As noted in FIG. 2, all of the cutters 32a-32j are ninety
degrees out of phase with one another inasmuch as the circular
paths of travel of the knives of adjacent cutters overlap one
another and must be appropriately out of phase in order to avoid
striking each other. Due to the positive mechanical drive
connection between the group of intermediate cutters 32b-32i
through the spur gears 35, such cutters always remain properly in
phase with one another, the outer cutters 32a and 32j remaining in
proper phase by means yet-to-be-described.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the gear case 34 is carried by a
shelf-like cradle 39 that juts forwardly from the lower, front edge
of the header 14 and extends along the length thereof. The upper
face of the cradle 39 is provided with a long recess or socket
across the front of the machine that matingly receives the gear
case 34. As shown in FIG. 6, an overhanging peripheral flange on
the gear case 34 receives a series of bolt assemblies 41 which
secure the gear case 34 to the cradle 39. Front notches 43 in the
leading edge of the cradle 39 (FIG. 2) are positioned between the
counterrotating cutters 32b-32i to improve the severing action
against those portions of standing crop materials aligned with the
zones generally between adjacent cutters instead of directly in
front of them.
As illustrated particularly in FIGS. 2-6, the cradle 39 has a pair
of forwardly projecting support bars 39a at its opposite ends. Each
of the support bars 39a, in turn, has a hollow support extensions
40 welded thereto and projecting laterally outwardly therefrom for
rotatably supporting the two outer cutters 32a and 32j. Although
the extensions 40 are hollow, they contain no spur gears or other
power distribution mechanism. Instead, as illustrated by the cutter
32a in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the outer cutters 32a, 32j merely has
a bearing assembly 42 secured to the top wall 40a of extension
support 40 for rotatably supporting an upright shaft assembly 44
that projects upwardly from the cutter 32a or 32j and defines the
axis of rotation thereof. In both of the outer cutters 32a and 32j,
the carriers 36 are secured to the corresponding shaft assembly 44
for rotation therewith.
The shaft assembly 44 of the outer cutter 32a is centered within an
impeller cage 46 of the same construction as the impeller cages in
the incorporated '859 patent. Additionally, the shaft assembly 44
includes a lower universal joint 48 housed within the impeller cage
46 in the same manner as the '859 Patent. The cutter 32a also
carries a kidney-shaped impeller plate 49 as in the '859 Patent.
The universal joint 48 is connected at its upper end to a shaft 50
that passes through a surrounding sleeve 52 held in a fixed,
vertical orientation by a horizontal partition or wall 54 extending
above the cutters 32a and 32b. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the
overhead wall 54 merges at its rear extremity with a downwardly and
rearwardly sloping back wall 56 to define a region 58 forwardly of
the back wall 56 and below the overhead wall 54 within which the
cutters 32a, 32b and 32i, 32j are located. The sleeve 52 projects
down beyond the overhead wall 54 a sufficient distance as to extend
into the top of the impeller cage 46 without providing support for
the shaft assembly 44, and, at the other extreme, projects a short
distance upwardly above the overhead wall 54.
The shaft 50 projects into a right angle gearbox 60 carried by an
upright front wall 62 (FIG. 5) of the header. Inside the gearbox
60, the shaft 50 operably connects with a horizontal output shaft
64 that ultimately drives a pair of conditioning rolls 66 (FIG. 2)
via a belt and pulley drive 68 and a transmission box 70.
The shafts 50 and 64 are operably coupled interiorly of the gearbox
60 with a vertical shaft 72 projecting from the top of the gearbox
60. Shaft 72 carries a sheave 74 which is entrained by an endless,
flexible drive belt 76 extending horizontally inboard of the header
where it entrains another sheave 78. The drive belt 76 is a timing
belt of the type provided with a multitude of transverse, evenly
spaced ribs along its working surface for meshing engagement with
mating, upright groves in the working peripheries of the sheaves 74
and 78. This eliminates slippage between the timing belt 76 and the
sheaves 74, 78 during operation, which maintains proper
out-of-phase relationship between the outer cutter 32a and the next
adjacent cutter 32b. The sheave 78 is fixed to an upright shaft 80
which receives driving input power from a large sheave 82 entrained
by a flat drive belt 84 leading toward the center of the header.
The opposite, lower end of the shaft 80 is coupled with the cutter
32b for driving the same. Thus, it will be seen that the universal
coupling 48 of the cutter 38a, the shaft 50, the gearbox 60 and the
shaft 72 broadly comprise driven shaft means for the cutter 32a,
while the sheave 74, the timing belt 76 and the sheave 78 broadly
comprise mechanism 83 operably coupling the driven shaft means with
the drive shaft 80 for the second cutter 32b.
The belt 84 extends back to the center of the machine and at that
location entrains a large sheave 86 that receives driving power
from a downwardly projecting output shaft (not clearly shown in the
drawings) of the gearbox 24.
The drive shaft 80 of the cutter 32b is journalled by a pair of
upper and lower bearing assemblies 88 and 90 which are in turn
supported within a generally C-shaped bracket 92 (FIGS. 4 and 6)
fastened to the front wall 62 inboard of the attachment point for
the gearbox 60 of cutter 32a. Shaft 80 projects downwardly from the
bearing 90 through a sleeve 94, similar to the sleeve 52, which is
fixed to the horizontal wall 54 and projects downwardly beyond the
same. At a point near the lower end of the sleeve 94 the shaft 80
connects with a universal coupling 96 that is in turn fixed to a
short upright shaft (not shown) having the spur gear 35 fixed
thereto at its lower end. The short upright shaft of the cutter 32b
is contained within the bearing assembly 42 thereof and such shaft
is operably connected to the carrier 36 of the cutter 32b. A
generally kidney shaped impeller plate 98 of the type disclosed in
the '859 Patent is secured to the carrier 36 of the cutter 32b for
rotation therewith. Additionally, an impeller cage 100 of the same
construction as the cage 46 of cutter 32a is disposed above the
impeller plate 98 encircling the universal coupling 96.
As illustrated in the figures, the cutter 32b and its drive shaft
means comprising the upper shaft 80, the universal coupling 96 and
the lower stub shaft within the bearing 42 are located adjacently
outboard of a crop discharge opening 102 in the back wall 56 of the
header 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the conditioning rolls 66 are
located immediately behind the opening 102, which in turn is
positioned directly behind the cutters 32c-32h. Like the cutter
32b, the cutter 32i is located adjacent one end of the opening 102,
and preferably has its upright axis of rotation disposed slightly
outboard of such opening.
As earlier mentioned, the group of intermediate cutters 32b-32i are
drivingly interconnected and distribute power to one another
through the train of spur gears 35 contained within the gear case
34 of the cutter bed 32. There is an unbroken chain of power
distribution through the gear case 34 from the cutter 32b through
and including the cutter 32i. On the other hand, like the cutter
32a, the cutter 32j is not driven by a spur gear directly beneath
it. Instead, the hollow extension support 40 for the cutter 32j is
empty like the support 40 for the cutter 32a.
The cutter 32j is driven in a similar manner to the cutter 32a
through an over-the-top mechanism. Like the cutter 32a, the cutter
32j includes a universal coupling 104, a shaft 106 leading upwardly
from the coupling 104, and a sleeve 108 encircling the shaft 106 at
the point where shaft 106 is connected to the universal coupling
104. The sleeve 108 is supported within a top wall 110 which
corresponds to the top wall 54 at the opposite end of the header.
An impeller cage 112 encircles the universal coupling 104 and has
an impeller plate 114. Instead of passing into a gearbox such as
the gearbox 60 associated with cutter 32a, the upright shaft 106 of
cutter 32j is supported by bearings and a C-shaped bracket 116 like
the bearings 88, 90 and bracket 92 associated with the cutter 32b.
Thus, the coupling 104 and the shaft 106 constitute driven shaft
means for the cutter 32j.
The upper end of the shaft 106 is provided with a ribbed timing
sheave 118 which is entrained by an endless timing belt 120. At its
opposite end, the timing belt 120 is entrained around a second
timing sheave 122 fixed to the upper end of a shaft 124 associated
with the cutter 32i. The shaft 124 is supported by a C-shaped
bracket 126 that is secured to a front wall corresponding to the
front wall 62 on the left end of the header. Shaft 124 passes
downwardly through a sleeve 128 supported by top wall 110. A
universal coupling 130 joins with the shaft 124 within the sleeve
128 and connects at its bottom end with a short, upright stub shaft
(not shown) beneath the carrier 36 of the cutter 32i, which is in
turn secured to an aligned one of the spur gears 35 within the gear
case 34. An impeller cage 132 surrounds the universal coupling 130
and is secured to the carrier 36 of cutter 32i. As can be seen, the
sheave 118, the belt 120 and the sheave 122 effectively comprise
mechanism denoted by the numeral 134 operably coupling the shaft
124 of the cutter 32i with the shaft 106 of the cutter 32j
externally of the support 40 for driving the cutter 32j. An
impeller plate 133 overlies and is secured to the carrier 36 of
cutter 32i and is ninety degrees out of phase with the impeller
plate 114 of the cutter 32j.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the cutters 32b-32i in the intermediate
group are arranged in cooperating pairs so that the two cutters of
each pair rotate in opposite directions. In other words, the
cutters 32b and 32c rotate toward one another across the front of
the cutter bed as do the cutters 32d, 32e, the cutters 32f and 32g,
and the cutters 32h and 32i. Consequently, the converging leading
edges of the counter rotating cutters tend to direct the severed
crop material rearwardly between such cutters at their point of
convergence.
On the other hand, it will be noted that the two outermost cutters
32a and 32j rotate in the same direction across the front of the
cutter bed as their next inboard cutters 32b and 32i. Accordingly,
crop materials severed by the outermost cutters 32a and 32j are
moved inwardly along the front of the cutters 32a, 32b and 32j, 32i
until reaching the next converging nip point of the cutters in
front of the discharge opening 102.
It is to be noted that because the outermost cutters 32a and 32j
rotate inwardly in the same direction as their next adjacent
cutters 32b and 32i, the cutters of those particular pairs must be
spaced somewhat further from one another than the cutters of the
oppositely rotating pairs in order to avoid striking one another.
This is observable in FIG. 2, for example. Consequently, unless
appropriate compensatory measures are taken, there is likely to be
a slight decrease in the cutting quality in the zones directly
between cutters 32a, 32b and 32i, 32j. Accordingly, it will be
noted that the notches 135 between cutters 32a, 32b and 32i, 32j
are somewhat deeper and wider than the notches 43 along the front
edge of the cradle 39. This allows the standing crop material
aligned with notches 135 to enter more deeply into the profile of
the cutter bed 30 before the bed passes over the material, thus
providing a greater opportunity for the arcuately moving cutter
blade 38 to engage and sever the material before it is passed over
by the bed 30. While the spur gears 35 within the gear case 34
preclude the notches 43 from being deeper than illustrated in FIG.
2, no such restriction exists with the support extensions 40 due to
the fact they are hollow and devoid of mechanism.
FIG. 7 illustrates the harvester 10 with a modified form of
mechanism that transfers power from the cutter 32b to the cutter
32a, and from the cutter 32i to the cutter 32j. Thus, in FIG. 7 the
mechanism 136 between the cutters 32a and 32b includes a first
right angle gearbox 138, a horizontal output shaft 140 projecting
from the gearbox 138 toward the cutter 32a, a universal joint
coupling 142 at the end of shaft 140, an input shaft 144 at the end
of coupling 142, and a second right angle gearbox 146. The shaft 50
for the cutter 32a leads downwardly out of the gearbox 146.
Similarly, the shaft 80 for cutter 32b extends downwardly out of
the gearbox 138, as well as upwardly to the large sheave 82.
The same type of change is made at the right end of the header in
which the power transferring mechanism 148 supplies driving power
from the cutter 32i to the cutter 32j. The operating components of
the mechanism 148 are substantially identical to those of the
mechanism 136, and thus will not be described.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment for the mechanism which transfers
power from the cutter 32b to the cutter 32a, and from the cutter
32i to the cutter 32j. In this arrangement the mechanism 150
between cutter 32a and cutter 32b most closely resembles the
mechanism 83 of the first embodiment, with the exception that
instead of a timing belt and timing sheaves, a chain 152 and
sprockets 154, 156 are utilized. Similarly, in the mechanism 158
between the cutters 32i and 32j, a chain 160, sprocket 162 and
sprocket 164 are used.
FIG. 9 illustrates a hydraulic drive arrangement for the cutter bed
30. In lieu of the mechanical drive arrangement of FIGS. 1-8, a
pair of rotary hydraulic motors 166 and 168 are utilized to drive
the cutters 32a-32j. In the case of the motor 166, a C-shaped
bracket 170 is secured to the upright front wall 62 of the header
and carries an elevated platform 172 and struts 173 for motor 166
so that motor 166 is disposed high above the top wall 54 of the
crop handling region 58. An upright shaft 174 projects downwardly
from the motor 166 and carries a timing sheave 176 before passing
on down to the cutter 32b in the usual way. The timing sheave 176
is entrained by a timing belt 178, which in turn entrains a timing
sheave 180 on an upright shaft 182 associated with the cutter 32a.
The shaft 182 projects into a right angle gearbox 184 which
operably connects with the cutter 32a in the usual manner.
The cutters 32b-32i are drivingly interconnected with one another
through the gear case 34 by spur gears in the same manner as
disclosed with respect to FIGS. 1-8. Similarly, the endmost cutters
32a and 32j are carried on hollow support extensions 40 which are
devoid of spur gears and other drive mechanism in the same manner
as disclosed in FIGS. 1-8. Consequently, it will be seen that
driving power for the cutter 32a is obtained exteriorly of the gear
case 34 via mechanism broadly denoted by the numeral 186 and
including the timing sheave 176, the timing belt 178 and the timing
sheave 180. Hydraulic motor 166 thus provides driving power for
both the cutter 32a and the cutter 32b.
At the opposite end of the machine, the hydraulic motor 168 is
supported on its own C-shaped bracket 188 high above the top wall
110 of the header by a platform 190 and struts 192. An output shaft
194 from the hydraulic motor 168 carries a timing sheave 196 and
passes on down through the bracket 188 for operable connection with
the cutter 32i in the usual manner. A timing belt 198 is entrained
around the timing sheave 196 and also a timing sheave 200 on the
upper end of an upright shaft 202 associated with the cutter 32j.
Shaft 202 passes downwardly through and is supported by a C-shaped
bracket 204 attached to the front wall 62 of the header and
connects with the cutter 32j at its lower end in the usual manner.
Thus, it will be seen that the timing sheave 196, the timing belt
198 and the second timing sheave 200 comprise mechanism 206 for
transferring driving power from the shaft 194 of cutter 32i to the
shaft 202 of cutter 32j. The motor 168 thus drives both the cutter
32i and the cutter 32j.
Moreover, it will be seen that the two hydraulic motors 166, 168
cooperatively drive and share the load of all of the cutters
32a-32j associated with the cutter bed 30. Since the intermediate
cutters 32b-32i are all interconnected via the gear train within
the gear case 34, and the cutters 32a and 32j are connected to the
input drive shafts 174 and 194 of the hydraulic motors 166, 168,
all cutters of the cutter bed 30 simultaneously receive driving
input power from the hydraulic motors 166 and 168. With the motors
166 and 168 connected in a parallel hydraulic fluid flow
relationship, any additional loading experienced by one of the
motors 166 or 168 is immediately shared by the other hydraulic
motor, thus maintaining equal loads on the two motors. This also
means, for example, that the spur gear associated with the cutter
32b does not need to bear all of the loading from the other spur
gears in the gear case since approximately one half that loading is
directed to the spur gear associated with the cutter 32i at the
opposite end of the gear case 34. Consequently, bearings, gears and
other components of the system will have significantly increased
wear life.
Load Compensating Circuit
FIG. 10 shows a hydraulic drive and control circuit which is
especially suited for a self-propelled machine in which the tractor
portion is provided with an engine 208 and an onboard pump 210 that
is mechanically driven by the engine 208. The pump 210 is
preferably a pressure-compensated, load-sensitive pump, a suitable
one of which is available from Vickers, Inc. of Omaha, Nebr. A
swash plate of the pump 210 may be adjustably stroked or destroked
to change its angular position so as to correspondingly adjust the
output flow rate of oil therefrom as measured, for example, in
gallons per minute.
A high pressure line 212 leads from the pump 210 to a tee
connection 214, where one branch line 216 leads to the motor 166
and another branch line 218 leads to the motor 168. A return line
220 leads from the motor 166 back to another tee connection 222,
while a return line 224 leads from the motor 168 to the tee
connection 222. From the connection 222 a single low pressure line
226 leads to the backside of the pump 210. A case drain line 227
leads from the backside of the pump 210 to the tank 240 to remove
any oversupply of oil to the pump 210 and to provide cooling for
the pump. In the preferred embodiment, the compensating pump 210 is
provided with a fixed displacement, vane-type charge pump (not
shown) of well known construction to supply oil to the pump 210.
Broadly speaking, the lines and connections 212-226 comprise an
operating circuit for the motors 166 and 168.
The operating circuit 228 is illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 10,
while a control circuit for the operating circuit 228 is
illustrated for purposes of clarity primarily in dashed lines and
is denoted broadly by the numeral 230. One component of the control
circuit 230 is a pilot operated, two-position poppet valve 232
which can either be open or closed. The poppet valve 232 is located
in the line 212 upstream from the tee 214 and is normally closed as
illustrated in FIG. 10. Two conditions must be met before it can be
shifted to its open condition to allow flow there past to the
motors 166 and 168. First, there must be pressure in the line 212
sufficient to shift the spring-loaded poppet via a pilot line 234.
Second, an electrically operated control valve 236 must be
energized and shifted out of its closed position of FIG. 10 to an
open position leftward of that illustrated in FIG. 10 so as to
communicate a return line 238 from the poppet valve 232 to tank 240
via a tank line 242. Normally, with the electrically operated valve
236 in its closed position of FIG. 10, the return line 238
communicates with a high pressure line 244 connected to the main
high pressure line 212. An orifice 246 in high pressure line 244
reduces the pressure therein somewhat on the downstream side of the
orifice 246 such that the resulting pressure within line 238 plus
the resistance of a spring 248 of the poppet valve 232 keeps the
poppet 232 normally closed. When the electric valve 236 is opened,
the high pressure line 244 simply comes into communication with a
line 250 having a check valve 252 that prevents further flow
through the line 250. When the electric valve 236 is in its closed
FIG. 10 position the line 250 communicates with tank 240 via the
tank line 242 and the check valve 252 can open, but there is no
operating pressure in the operating circuit 228 on the downstream
side of the poppet valve 232 so there is no meaningful flow through
the line 250 to the tank 240 at this time. It is contemplated that
the electric valve 236 will be controlled from the cab of the
tractor in an easily accessible position to the operator.
The poppet valve 232 is operable to serve as a restrictive orifice
when in its open position. Thus, when poppet valve 232 is open and
pressurized fluid is flowing through the line 212, there is a
pressure drop as the fluid passes through the poppet valve 232. In
other words, the pressure at a tee connection 254 on the upstream
side of the poppet valve 232 is higher at such time than the
pressure at a tee connection 256 on the downstream side of the
poppet 232. This pressure differential, more specifically the
magnitude thereof, is utilized to control an adjusting circuit 258,
comprising a portion of the control circuit 230, for adjusting the
volume output of the pump 210 whose swash plate may be denoted
schematically for purposes of illustration by the arrow 260
associated with the pump 210.
The adjusting circuit portion 258 of the control circuit 230
includes a high pressure line 262 that joins with the high pressure
line 212 at the tee connection 254 and leads to the left end of a
pressure differential operated load compensating valve 264. On the
other hand, the opposite, right end of the load compensating valve
264 viewing FIG. 10 communicates with the lower pressure tee
connection 256 via a low pressure line 266. The load compensating
valve 264 is biased toward its closed position of FIG. 10 by an
adjustable spring 268 such that the compensating valve 264 only
shifts rightwardly to its open position when the pressure
differential between the tee intersections 254 and 256 is
sufficiently high as to overcome the resistance of the spring 268.
When in such open, rightwardly shifted position, the load
compensating valve 264 communicates a short line 270 from the high
pressure line 262 with a destroking piston 272 via a pressure
limiting valve 274 and flow lines 276, 278 on opposite upstream and
downstream sides of the limiting valve 274. The destroking piston
272 is operable to shift the swash plate 260 in a direction to
reduce the volume output at such time. On the other hand, when the
load compensating valve 264 is in its unactuated position of FIG.
10, the destroking piston 272 is communicated with the tank 240 via
a drain line 280 leading from the valve 264 such that the
destroking piston 272 receives no operating pressure at that time.
Conversely, the stroking piston 282 of the pump 210 is communicated
with the high pressure line 262 via flow line 284 at all times such
that the stroking piston 282 continuously seeks to move and hold
the swash plate 260 in its maximum flow position. Moreover, the
stroking piston 282 has a spring associated therewith that biases
the piston 282 toward a full stroke position even when there is no
pressure in the high pressure line 212.
When the load compensating valve 264 is rightwardly shifted out of
its position in FIG. 10 to an operated position so as to
communicate the destroking piston 272 with the high pressure line
262 via short line 270, line 276 and line 278, both the destroking
piston 272 and the stroking piston 282 simultaneously receive the
same operating pressure from high pressure line 262. However, the
surface area of the destroking piston 272 is larger than that of
the stroking piston 282, causing the destroking piston 272 to
dominate and force the swash plate back toward a neutral position
in which no oil is pumped by the pump 210.
The limiting valve 274 is normally held in its closed position of
FIG. 10 by the adjustable spring 286 at the left end of the valve
viewing FIG. 10. Thus, the amount of pressure required to open the
limiting valve 274 can be adjusted by varying the force of the
spring 286. When in its closed position of FIG. 10, the limiting
valve 274 simply communicates the flow line 278 of the destroking
piston 272 with the reservoir 240 via lines 276 and 280, assuming
the load compensating valve 264 is in its unactuated position of
FIG. 10. When the fluid pressure within the main operating line 212
reaches the limit established by the limiting valve 274, the valve
is caused to shift leftwardly from its FIG. 10 position by pressure
in a short line 288 which is connected to the high pressure line
262 to bring pressure to bear against the right end of the valve
274. This will cause the destroking piston line 278 to be
communicated with a flow line 290 leading to the valve 274 from the
high pressure line 262 so as to admit high pressure oil to the
destroking piston 272. Although both the destroking piston 272 and
the stroking piston 282 will be exposed to the high pressure
simultaneously, because of the greater surface area of the
destroking piston 272, the destroking piston will immediately shift
the swash plate 260 back to neutral to stop the pump from pumping
oil.
When the engine 208 is first started and the pump 210 begins
operation, the swash plate 260 becomes stroked to its maximum
volume position since the stroking piston 282 is spring biased to
its maximum stroke. Pressure begins to rise in the main operating
line 212, but no oil can flow to the motors 166 and 168 at this
time because the poppet valve 232 is closed. Consequently, inasmuch
as there is essentially no oil pressure at the tee connection 214
at this time as long as the poppet valve 232 remains closed, the
pressure differential seen by the loading valve 264 climbs to its
operating level, at which time the loading valve 264 is caused to
shift rightwardly from its FIG. 10 position to align the flow line
270 with the flow line 276. This operates the destroking piston 272
to return the swash plate 260 to its neutral position so that no
additional oil is supplied by the pump 210 at this time.
When the operator is ready to start cutting, he operates a switch
(not shown) in the tractor cab to energize the electric valve 236.
This shifts the valve 236 leftwardly from its position in FIG. 10
to communicate the return line 238 with the tank line 242, which
lowers the pressure within line 238 sufficiently that the pressure
in pilot line 234 can shift the poppet valve 232 to its open
position. Once the poppet valve 232 is open, the operating circuit
228 becomes fully pressurized and the motors 166 and 168 commence
rotating.
As pressurized oil passes through the poppet valve 232, the valve
232 functions as a restrictive orifice, causing a pressure drop on
the downstream side of the valve 232. Thus, the pressure at tee
connection 254 is normally higher than the pressure at tee
connection 256. The control circuit 230 takes advantage of this
differential to communicate the higher pressure at tee connection
254 to the left end of load control valve 264 via line 262, and the
lower pressure at tee connection 256 to the right end of the load
control valve 264 via line 266. When this differential exceeds the
preset limit, the load control valve 264 shifts rightwardly,
communicating the destroking piston 272 with high pressure fluid
via lines 262, 270, 276 and 278. This destrokes the pump 210 to
prevent the volume flow rate from exceeding a preset amount as
determined by the adjustment of the control spring 268.
During cutting operations the harvester sometimes encounters heavy
cutting conditions which put load on the operating circuit 228 and
tend to lug down the engine 208. If this tendency to reduce the
engine speed were not counteracted in some way, the pump 210 would
slow down, the rate of flow of oil from the pump 210 would be
reduced, and the cutting speed of the motors 166 and 168 would
correspondingly decrease. Accordingly, the adjusting circuit 258 of
the control circuit 230, in particularly the load compensating
valve 264, is operable to responsively stroke the swash plate 260
when increased loading in the operating circuit 228 tends to lug
down the engine 208, thus maintaining the cutting speed of the
cutter bed 30 essentially constant at all times.
It will be seen in this respect that when the motors 166 and 168
become more difficult to rotate due to increased resistance at the
cutter bed 30, such additional loading is immediately experienced
in the high pressure operating line 212. This additional loading
tends to make the engine 208 slow down so as to lower the volume
flow rate from the pump 210. This volume decrease, however, results
in a decrease in the pressure differential across the poppet valve
232 such that the compensating valve 264 stays in its leftmost
position of FIG. 10 to cause the stroking piston 282 to shift the
swash plate 260 in a direction to increase the volume flow rate of
oil from the pump 210. The increased volume flow rate from the pump
210 compensates for the reduction in engine speed. Consequently,
the cutters 32 remain turning at the desired cutting speed even
when heavy conditions tend to lug down the engine 208. Once the
heavy conditions are handled, the engine 208 speeds back up and
tends to increase the volume rate of oil leaving the pump 210.
However, any such volume increase merely increases the pressure on
the upstream side of the poppet valve 232 so as to increase the
pressure differential seen by the compensating valve 264. When such
differential reaches the preset limit, the valve 264 shifts
rightwardly viewing FIG. 10 to expose the destroking piston 272 to
high pressure oil and thus shift the swash plate 260 in a direction
to bring the rate of flow back down to its normal level. Of course,
if the cutter becomes plugged, the limiting valve 274 will kick in
and shut down the flow from the pump 210 to avoid damage to the
system.
One suitable operating and control system, including the pump 210
with its destroking piston 272 and stroking piston 282, poppet
valve 232, electric control valve 236, compensating valve 264 and
limiting valve 274, is available from Vickers, Inc. of Omaha, Nebr.
as system No. PVH98-MCD-V1OR-02306232, assembly No. 02-306232. The
poppet valve 232 and the electric control valve 236 may be obtained
separately from the other valves of the system, combined within a
valve block or unitary body, from Modular Controls Division of
Vickers, Inc., Carrol Stream, Ill., as Part No. MCD-4326.
Non-Auger Conveying Means
FIGS. 11-18 relate to alternative arrangements for conveying the
crop materials severed by cutters 32a and 32b as well as 32i and
32j inwardly toward the discharge opening 102. For the sake of
space, only the left end of the header has been illustrated in
connection with the alternative arrangements, but it will be
understood that a similar construction is also utilized at the
opposite end of the header. Furthermore, some of the embodiments
utilize hydraulic drive and others utilize mechanical drive, and
such two different power types are considered interchangeable
insofar as the conveying principles disclosed by the alternative
embodiments of FIGS. 11-18 are concerned.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show a conveying means 292 in the form of a wide,
upright, flat endless belt 294 that is entrained around the
impeller cages 46 and 100. Because the impeller cages 46 and 100
are driven in clockwise directions viewing FIG. 12, the forwardly
facing front surface of the conveyor belt 294 moves from right to
left, or inwardly toward the discharge opening 102.
It will also be noted that the front surface of the belt 294 is
spaced rearwardly from the forwardmost extremity of the cutters 32.
Thus, there is presented a certain accumulation space between the
forward extremities of the cutters and the vertical face of the
belt 294 within which the crop material can flow as it is severed
and directed laterally inwardly.
FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show an alternative conveying means 296
comprising an upright, rotary drum 298 and the impeller cages 100
and 46. The drum 298 is located between the impeller cages 46 and
100 with its front periphery in line with the corresponding front
peripheries of the cages 46 and 100, thus effectively presenting a
forwardly facing crop conveying surface somewhat similar to the
front conveying surface of the belt 294 in FIGS. 11 and 12. An
overhead belt and pulley drive 300 for the drum 298 receives
driving power from the shaft 80 associated with the cutter 32b so
as to rotate in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 14, like the
impeller cages 46 and 100. The drum 298 is suspended from the top
wall 54 of the header by an upright shaft 302 of the drive and by a
suitable bracket (only fragmentarily shown) 304 secured to the
upright front wall 62 of the header. It will be noted in FIG. 13
that the bottom of the drum 298 is spaced above the upper surface
of the gear case 34 such that there is no support or drive
structure directly beneath the drum 298. Moreover, it will be noted
that the periphery of the drum 298 is vertically ribbed to enhance
its crop conveying capabilities.
The conveyor means 306 in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 comprises a third
impeller cage 308 in combination with the other two impeller cages
46 and 100. As with the drum 298 of FIGS. 13-15, the cage 308 is
located between the other cages 46 and 100 and has its forward
extremity in line with the corresponding forward extremities of the
other cages. Thus, all three of the cages 46, 308 and 100
cooperatively present an effective front conveying surface that is
set back from the forward most cutting circles of the cutters 32a
and 32b to provide space in which the crop can flow laterally
inwardly. The cage 308 is driven in a clockwise direction viewing
FIG. 17, corresponding to the direction of rotation of the cutters
32a and 32b.
The cage 308 is constructed in an identical manner to the cages 46
and 100 and therefore will not be explained in detail. Unlike the
cages 46 and 100, however, the cage 308 is suspended in place with
an absence of drive structure or cutter structure beneath the
bottom thereof and the top of the gear case 34. An upright drive
shaft 310 extends upwardly through the center of the cage 308,
through the top wall 54, and into a flat horizontal gear case 312.
Within the gear case 312, a gear train is contained for
transferring power between the shaft 80 of cutter 32b, the shaft
310 of the cage 308 and the shaft 50 of the cutter 32a. Such gear
train includes a spur gear 314 on the shaft 80, a spur gear 316 on
the shaft 310, a spur gear 318 on the shaft 50, an idler gear 320
rotatably supported in meshing engagement with the spur gears 314
and 316, and a second idler gear 322 in meshing engagement with the
spur gears 316 and 318. It will be seen that the gear case 312 can
be as long as necessary to accommodate the length of gear train
that is appropriate for the number of cutters and conveyor cages
utilized outboard of the discharge opening 102. Thus, although the
present invention has been illustrated with only two outboard
cutters 32a and 32b, it will be appreciated that a greater number
of outboard cutters may be utilized. A similar gear train and case
could be used as one form of overhead power transmitting mechanism
in lieu of the mechanisms 83 and 134, 136 and 148, 150 and 158, and
186, 206.
The power for driving the cutter bed 30 in the embodiment of FIGS.
16-18 is hydraulic power, one of the hydraulic motors 66 being
illustrated as drivingly coupled with the shaft 80 of the cutter
32b. Mechanical power could be used instead.
Furthermore, although the embodiments of FIGS. 16-18 illustrate a
single, relatively large diameter rotary member between the cages
of the two outermost cutters, it will be appreciated that the
single member could be replaced by two or more smaller diameter
rotary members without departing from the principles of the present
invention. If the smaller diameter members are utilized, it would
be important to shift their axes of rotation far enough forwardly
to assure that their forward extremities are generally transversely
aligned with the front extremities of the cages 46 and 100, for
example, so as to effectively provide a moving conveying
surface.
Although preferred forms of the invention have been described
above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of
illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense
in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious
modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set
forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of
Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of
their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially
departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as
set out in the following claims.
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